"Folks never understand the folks they hate"

This quote by James Russell Lowell speaks to the problem of understanding those we dislike. It recommends that it is hard to genuinely understand the motivations and experiences of those we disagree with or even dislike. It implies that we typically make assumptions about those we hate, without taking the time to understand their viewpoint. This quote encourages us to take an action back and attempt to comprehend the people we dislike, instead of just dismissing them. It suggests that if we make the effort to comprehend those we hate, we might discover that our differences are less as we at first believed. This quote motivates us to be more open-minded and to strive for understanding, even when it concerns those we dislike.